Author Archives: JMN

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About JMN

I live in Texas and devote much of my time to easel painting on an amateur basis. I stream a lot of music, mostly jazz, throughout the day. I like to read and memorize poetry.

Three Rules With Tolerances

Posted on January 26, 2026 by JMN

RULE OF GOLDTreat others like you want to be treated. RULE OF IRONBelieve in Me or else. RULE OF THUMBSteer into the skid. TOLERANCES“Every trade works to different tolerances. Steel workers aim to be accurate within half an inch; carpenters … Continue reading →

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Europa to Americus: ‘Yassuh, Massah!’

Posted on January 23, 2026 by JMN

The Greek derivatives in English spurt from a font of abstruse vocables that gives us, say, “dithyramb” — “a passionate or inflated speech, poem or other writing.” It’s a short hop to coinage such as “pithyramb” — “a passionate or … Continue reading →

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Keep What Holds the Light Unbroken

Posted on January 16, 2026 by JMN

The Gleb on a Gnat’s Vesicle— After Donne. How do we rue you, cunning tongue?Grant us, sir, spit out a lung.Perdition’s grease fire. Odium’s pimp.Perversity’s pal. Plague’s piece of tail.Malice engorged. Enormity in a suit.Torrent of keening. Badmouth bard.Punch down, … Continue reading →

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And That’s Okay, But Don’t Worry, It’s Under Control’

Posted on January 13, 2026 by JMN

Remarks by podcaster Jason Staples have led me to ponder the notion of “original” language relative to scriptures widely known via translation. My attention was drawn to Staples’s comment that the Book of Revelations “has mixed metaphors all over the … Continue reading →

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They Swoop to Conquer

Posted on January 6, 2026 by JMN

The Gods:Lord Elon of X. Mighty Mark of Meta. Sundering Sundar of Alphabet. Looming Larry of Oracle. Jacked Jeff of Amazon. Titanic Tim of Apple The Chorus:Thiel, Andreessen, Ramaswamy The Jesters:Rogan, Hannity, Carlson The Company:MAGA The Play:“Narcissus at Davos” (c) … Continue reading →

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‘A Hardheaded Little Nobody With a Dream’

Posted on January 4, 2026 by JMN

“I never worry when I ride.” (Diane Crump, age 21) Many male officials considered women to lack the strength and composure to control a thoroughbred as it galloped along at 40 miles an hour. It was an era in which … Continue reading →

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Nostalgia, or Afterglow Foretold

Posted on January 4, 2026 by JMN

Greetings, Heart of Loia! Brylcreem, a little dab’ll do ya,Brylcreem, ya’ll look so debonair.Brylcreem, the gals will pursue ya.Just rub a little of it in yer hair! Breaking the 4th Wall for a MomentIn my experience, being followed (subscribed) here … Continue reading →

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Revolutionary January: No-Shots-Fired

Posted on January 1, 2026 by JMN

“As U.S. Guns Pour Into Canada, the Bodies Pile Up” (New York Times headline on Dec. 21, 2025) Can’t remember where, but recently I read that a functioning state must have a “monopoly on violence.” At first I found it … Continue reading →

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Of the 40 ‘Best’ Illustrations, 4 Are Good

Posted on December 29, 2025 by JMN

Sadly, many of the New York Times’s “best” Illustrations of 2025 are animated, removing them from consideration. Many others are merely garish, or negligible in diverse ways. Not a good year for illustration, but for the craver of artful graphics … Continue reading →

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Connections to the ‘More-Than-Human World’

Posted on December 25, 2025 by JMN

“All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.” (Julian of Norwich) Julian of Norwich, a contemporary of Chaucer, is credited with doing for prose what Chaucer did for poetry: Writing in … Continue reading →

Posted in Quotations | Tagged , | 2 Comments